The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended that the United Kingdom’s government increase the flexibility of the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS).
Such a suggestion follows the UK’s agricultural sector’s dependence on foreign workers more than in any other industry, VisaGuide.World reports.
The Seasonal Worker Scheme started in 2019 as a pilot and is expected to be effective at least until 2029.
Greater flexibility would enable employers to plan more efficiently and for workers to maximize their earnings without adding complexity to the route. This can be achieved by shortening the current ‘cooling-off’ period from the current six months to three months and allowing workers to work any six-month period in an individual calendar year.
One reason the UK relies on a foreign agricultural workforce is that recruiting local workers is challenging due to the physically demanding work and low salaries in rural areas.
However, according to MAC, salary differentials with poorer source countries can make seasonal agricultural work in the UK attractive and sometimes profitable for migrant workers.
Among other recommendations, MAC has also called for fairer work and pay for seasonal workers.
We recommend that Seasonal Workers are guaranteed at least two months’ pay in order to cover their costs in coming to the UK and reduce the risk that low-income workers are required to take.
Foreign Agricultural Workers Can Help UK Maintain Food Production Levels
MAC said that due to climatic changes and global geopolitical uncertainty, local production of affordable food will likely be essential for the country’s food security in the future.
Therefore, migrant seasonal workers are considered necessary to help the UK industry maintain food production levels in accordance with the government’s 2022 Food Strategy.
Ultimately, we believe that if the government intends to maintain current levels of domestic food production, then there is a clear need for a SWS in the short-to-medium term. This will provide certainty to businesses who operate in a sector unusually reliant on migrant labour, given the lack of domestic workers and the seasonal and rural nature of the work.
In addition to the recommendations mentioned above, MAC suggest authorities to:
- Ensure certainty about the future of the SWV scheme
- Tighten, communicate, and enforce employee rights
- Consider the Employer Pays Principle
Number of UK Visa Applications Decreased Following Stricter Immigration Rules
Prior to the recommendations mentioned above, the UK tightened up some of its visa regulations concerning healthcare workers and international students, among others.
Consequently, the country witnessed fewer applications during the first quarter of 2024.